Chapter 2: Escape

Kai grew up under the strict and harsh training of the Zoldyck family, but he secretly yearned for freedom and adventure.

He learned about the Hunter Association, a prestigious organization that granted licenses to those who passed a series of tests and challenges. He heard stories about hunters who explored unknown lands, discovered hidden treasures, fought powerful enemies, and made history. He dreamed of becoming a hunter someday, hoping to see the world and make new friends.

He decided to take the Hunter Exam when he turned 12 years old, the minimum age requirement. He had heard about the exam from a book he found in the library, which described it as a series of tests and challenges that granted licenses to those who passed. He was fascinated by the idea of becoming a hunter, and exploring a world of adventure and opportunity.

He knew his parents would never allow him to leave the mansion, let alone participate in such a dangerous and unpredictable event. They wanted him to stay and train as an assassin, and follow their orders and expectations. They would punish him severely if they found out about his plan, or worse, stop him from ever leaving.

He also knew his brother Killua shared his desire to escape from their family's control. They had been planning to run away for a long time, waiting for the right opportunity. They had secretly gathered some money, clothes, and weapons, and hid them in a secret place. They had stolen some cash from their father's safe, some clothes from their mother's closet, and some weapons from their grandfather's arsenal.

They had hidden them in a hollow tree in the forest behind the mansion, which they had discovered during one of their rare outings. They had also studied the layout of the mansion, and memorized the locations of the guards and the traps. They had drawn a map of the mansion on a piece of paper, and marked the places where they could find or avoid the guards and the traps. They had hidden the map in a book in their room, which they had chosen because it had a similar title to their plan: The Great Escape.

They had communicated with each other using code words and signals, and agreed on a date and time to leave. They had used words like "dragon" for Kai, "lightning" for Killua, "forest" for their hiding place, and "hunter" for their destination. They had used signals like tapping their nose for yes, scratching their ear for no, and blinking twice for ready. They had agreed to leave on the night of the full moon, at midnight.

They were ready to run away.

They were ready to be free.

They were determined.

They were hopeful.

That opportunity came one night, when their parents were away on a mission. They had received a message from their mother, who told them they would be gone for a few days. They knew this was their chance, and they didn't hesitate. They packed their bags with some clothes, money, and weapons, and sneaked out of their rooms.

They avoided the guards and the traps, using their nen skills and their knowledge of the mansion's layout. They used their enhancement nen to increase their speed and strength, and their emission nen to create distractions and diversions.

They used their transmutation nen to change their aura into electricity or metal, and their manipulation nen to control their yo-yos or other objects. They used their conjuration nen to create fake copies of themselves or their belongings, and their specialization nen to sense and avoid danger.

They reached the gate, which was locked and electrified. It was the final obstacle between them and freedom. They used their metal yo-yos to short-circuit the gate's mechanism, creating a small opening. They squeezed through it, and ran down the mountain.

They had done it.

They had escaped.

They felt a mix of excitement, relief, and fear.

They didn't know what would happen next.

They didn't care.

They were free.

They hitchhiked a ride on a truck that was heading to the nearest town. They waved their hands at the passing vehicles, hoping to catch someone's attention. They were lucky to find a friendly driver, who agreed to take them along. He was a farmer, who was delivering some crops to the market. He asked them where they were going, and they told him they were going to Dolle Harbor. He said he could drop them off at the town, where they could find a bus that would take them there. He also gave them some food and water, and wished them good luck.

They bought some tickets for a bus that was going to Dolle Harbor, where the Hunter Exam was supposed to start. They used some of the money they had saved, and bought the cheapest tickets they could find. They didn't care about the comfort or the quality of the bus, as long as it got them to their destination. They also bought some snacks and magazines, to keep themselves entertained during the trip.

They boarded the bus, and sat next to each other. They found two seats at the back of the bus, where they could have some privacy and space. They put their bags under their seats, and their yo-yos on their laps. They looked around, and saw some other passengers, who looked like ordinary people. They wondered if any of them were also applicants for the Hunter Exam, and if they would meet them again later. They also wondered what kind of challenges and dangers awaited them at the exam site. They felt curious, nervous, and eager.

They were ready.

They were determined.

They were hopeful.

They looked out the window, and saw a different scenery than they were used to. They saw green fields that stretched for miles, with cows and sheep grazing peacefully. They saw blue skies that were clear and bright, with birds and clouds flying freely. They saw colorful flowers that bloomed and swayed, with bees and butterflies buzzing and fluttering. They saw people walking, talking, and laughing, with smiles and expressions that showed their emotions and personalities. They saw life, in all its beauty and diverse.

They smiled at each other.

They were happy.

They arrived at Dolle Harbor after a few hours. They got off the bus, and followed the signs that pointed to the exam site. They joined a crowd of people who were also applicants for the Hunter Exam. They saw all kinds of people: young and old, male and female, human and non-human. They saw people with different clothes, weapons, and abilities. They saw potential allies and enemies.

They felt curious, nervous, and eager.

They were ready.

They met three people who would become their friends and companions: Gon Freecss, Kurapika Kurta, and Leorio Paradinight.

They first met Gon when they were walking on a dirt road that led to the exam site. They saw a boy with a fishing rod sitting on a tree branch, waving at them. He jumped down and introduced himself, saying he was looking for the Hunter Exam. He asked them if they knew where it was, and they said they were also applicants. He smiled and said they should go together, and they agreed.

They then met Kurapika when they reached a checkpoint that required them to show their tickets. They saw a boy with chains around his neck and wrists arguing with a guard, who refused to let him pass. He said his ticket was stolen by a man in black, who ran away. He asked the guard to let him go, saying he had to take the exam. The guard said he didn't care, and told him to leave. He got angry and said he would not give up, and tried to force his way through. The guard pushed him back and threatened to arrest him.

Kai felt sorry for the boy, and decided to help him. He used his nen to sense the aura of the man in black, who was hiding behind a nearby building. He told Killua to follow him, and they ran towards the building. They confronted the man, who was holding a bunch of tickets. They demanded him to give back the boy's ticket, or else they would beat him up. The man laughed and said he would not give up his hard-earned tickets, and threw some knives at them. They dodged the knives, and attacked him with their yo-yos. They knocked him out, and took his tickets.

They returned to the checkpoint, and gave the boy his ticket back. He thanked them, and introduced himself as Kurapika. He asked them their names, and they told him. He said he was grateful for their help, and asked them if they wanted to join him for the exam. They said yes, and they passed the checkpoint together.

They finally met Leorio when they boarded the bus that was going to Dolle Harbor. They saw a man in a suit sitting on a seat that had a sign that said "reserved". They asked him if they could sit there, and he said no. He said he paid extra for that seat, and he didn't want anyone to bother him. He said he was a busy man, who had important things to do. He said he was going to become a hunter for money, and he didn't care about anything else.

They thought he was rude and selfish, and decided to ignore him. They found some other seats, and sat down. They started talking with Gon and Kurapika, who were sitting nearby. They shared their stories and reasons for taking the exam.

They were interrupted by a loud noise that came from the front of the bus. They saw a group of men wearing masks and holding guns. They announced that they were robbers, who were going to take everyone's money and valuables. They ordered everyone to stay calm and cooperate, or else they would shoot.

Everyone panicked and screamed, except for Kai, Killua, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio.

They felt angry and disgusted by the robbers, and decided to stop them. They used their nen and their weapons to fight them, and easily overpowered them. They tied them up, and threw them out of the bus. They then told the driver to keep going, and assured the other passengers that they were safe.

Everyone cheered and thanked them, except for Leorio.

He was furious and shocked by their actions. He said they were reckless and stupid, and they could have gotten everyone killed. He said they should have just given the robbers what they wanted, and avoided any trouble. He said they were not heroes, but idiots.

They argued with him, and said they did the right thing. They said they couldn't stand by and watch innocent people get robbed and hurt. They said they were not afraid of the robbers, but of losing their dignity and pride. They said they were not idiots, but hunters.

They had a heated debate, which lasted until they reached Dolle Harbor.

They got off the bus, and went their separate ways.

They thought they would never see him again.

But they were wrong.

They met him again at the exam site, where he was also an applicant.

He apologized for his rude behavior, and said he changed his mind about them. He said he realized they were brave and noble, and he respected them. He said he wanted to be their friend, and join them for the exam.

They accepted his apology, and welcomed him to their group.

They had a new friend and companion: Leorio Paradinight.

They reached the exam site, which was a large building that looked like a hotel or a museum. It had a white and elegant exterior, with many windows and doors. It had a sign that read "Hunter Exam Registration" in big and bold letters, which attracted the attention of many people. They entered the building, and followed the instructions of the staff, who were wearing blue uniforms and badges.

They filled out some forms, which asked for their personal information and reasons for taking the exam. They gave their fingerprints, which were scanned and verified by a machine. And they received their numbers, which were printed on a card and attached to their clothes. Kai was number 44, Killua was number 45, Gon was number 46, Kurapika was number 47, and Leorio was number 48. These numbers would identify them as applicants for the Hunter Exam, and determine their fate in the upcoming stages.

They waited in a large hall with hundreds of other applicants. They looked around and saw a variety of people, with different backgrounds, appearances, and abilities. They saw some familiar faces, who they had met or encountered during the previous stages of the exam.

They saw Tonpa, the rookie crusher, who was a fat and bald man with a friendly smile and a malicious intent. He tried to sabotage them with poisoned drinks, but they saw through his trick and avoided his trap.

They saw Hanzo, the ninja, who was a tall and muscular man with short black hair and a bandana. He challenged them to a fight, but they refused his offer and ignored his provocation.

They saw Hisoka, the magician, who was a pale and slender man with long red hair and a star on his cheek. He gave them a creepy smile and a menacing aura, which made them feel uneasy and nervous. He was one of the most dangerous and mysterious applicants in the exam.

They also saw Illumi, Kai's eldest brother, who disguised himself as another applicant. He was a master of manipulation and disguise, who used his nen needles to change his appearance and control people's minds. He was cold and ruthless, who had a keen interest in Kai's development. He was one of the most powerful and influential members of the Zoldyck family.

They felt tense, anxious, and alert.

They were prepared.

The Hunter Exam had begun.